By Stroud From New Bark Town to the Elite Four – One Trainer’s Johto Journey
In this full playthrough of Pokémon Crystal, I take on the iconic Johto region, beginning with the fiery Cyndaquil and ending with a triumphant sweep of the Elite Four — all with a mix of exploration, strategy, and classic Pokémon charm.
The Journey Begins
- The adventure kicks off with choosing Cyndaquil as the starter and heading west toward Cherrygrove City.
- A mysterious egg from Mr. Pokémon leads to an early visit from Professor Oak, a run-in with a rival, and the early foundation of the team.
- First big stops include Violet City, where I battled through Sprout Tower and took on Falkner for the Zephyr Badge.
Team Building & Exploration
- As my team grew, I tackled Dark Cave, explored the Ruins of Alph, and earned a key trade for an Onix.
- Cyndaquil evolved as we made our way through Union Cave, arriving at Azalea Town, where Team Rocket had taken over the Slowpoke Well.
- After helping Kurt, I earned my second badge and faced off against the rival once again.
Through Forests, Cities, and Caves
- A chase after Farfetch’d in Ilex Forest, exploring Goldenrod, and a tough fight against Whitney’s Miltank were big moments early on.
- Participated in the Bug Catching Contest, picked up key items like the SquirtBottle, and eventually made it to Ecruteak City, where I encountered the Legendary Beasts and battled Morty in the Ghost-type gym.
Surf, Storms, and Secrets
- The journey continued west toward Olivine and south to Cianwood, where I earned the Storm Badge and delivered medicine to Amphy back in the lighthouse.
- From there, I explored the Lake of Rage, caught the Red Gyarados, and uncovered Team Rocket’s secret signal plot with Lance.
Battles Heat Up
- After shutting down the Rocket Hideout and winning more badges, I tackled the Radio Tower takeover in Goldenrod and unlocked the Tin Tower.
- Made my way through the Ice Path, failed once (then succeeded!) against Clair, and proved myself worthy of the final badge via the Dragon Shrine.
Legendary Encounters & Final Tests
- With all 8 badges earned, I captured Suicune after a long Poké Ball battle (and eventually had to use the Master Ball!).
- Miltank was finally healed with enough berries, and the team made its way through Victory Road.
- After a bit of last-minute training, I took on the Elite Four – and beat them all on the first attempt!
Final Thoughts
Pokémon Crystal holds up incredibly well with its expanded story, improved visuals, and the inclusion of new Pokémon mechanics like breeding, time-of-day, and roaming Legendaries. This playthrough brought back so many memories and had enough challenge to keep it engaging from start to finish.
Thanks to everyone who followed along